Maine Lobster Industry In Hot Water

In his 30 years of studying lobsters, Robert Bayer has never seen this happen before.

Warmer water temperatures caused lobsters to prematurely shed their hard shells in late April — about six weeks before they usually do every season. Lobstermen and food businesses are still feeling the impact of the surplus of "shedders."

Bayer, the executive director of the Lobster Institute at the University of Maine, said Maine lobstermen usually expect to start seeing the soft-shell lobsters in late June.

"Now you have supply issues. The supply has far exceeded the demand, so lobster prices are low," he said. "The largest catches statewide are usually in August, September and October."

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